Petrus Pomerol 1989
- v100
- ws100
- wa100
The first historic documentation of the winery dates back to 1837, but didn’t find its current level of celebrity until the “great age of Pétrus” in 1945 with the end of World War II. Situated on the highest plateau in Pomerol, the soil is practically all black clay and ideal for their almost 30 planted acres of 95% Merlot. Hand harvest is only done in the afternoon once the morning dew has evaporated, and the wines are always aged in 100% new oak and unfiltered, producing wines with a gorgeous perfume, solid structure and aging abilities of up to 50 years in it best vintages. These are the wines that legends are made of. Pétrus finds its home on the unclassified Right Bank of Bordeaux in a modest two story farmhouse, yet produces wines that are the epitome of extravagant, lavish, and simply grand. Its magic is in the vines. Aesthetically, Pétrus is nowhere near the opulence of its Left Bank Château counterparts, but its wines tend to be even more expensive and rare than the First Growths.
Vinous
- v100
The 1989 Petrus is consistent with previous bottles in the sense that it represents the apotheosis of not only the vineyard, but of Pomerol itself. It still provides that almost surreal cornucopia of aromas, red fruit melted with tar, tobacco, hints of camphor and ash, all delivered with astonishing precision. The palate is perfectly balanced, intense yet paradoxically weightless. This example is one of the finest I have encountered in terms of clarity and precision. Ethereal. If you want to taste a genuine 100-point wine then step this way. Magnificent! (NM)
Wine Spectator
- ws100
I have always loved this wine. It's a giant, yet also sophisticated and reserved. Still dark-ruby colored, with beautiful aromas of fruits and spices. Full-bodied, with opulent fruit and a depth of flavor that lasts for minutes on the palate. Loads of tobacco and fruit. *Ranked #11 in Wine Spectator Top 100 of 1992* (JS) Inner quote mark (10/2004)
Wine Advocate
- wa100
This wine is more tightly knit, more tannic, but every bit the blockbuster concentrated effort that its younger sibling, the 1990, is. It seems to need more coaxing from the glass, but the color is virtually identical, a dense ruby/purple with no lightening at the edge. In the mouth the wine cuts a broad swath, with spectacular intensity, richness, massive concentration, and high levels of tannin, yet the wine is fabulously well-delineated and like its sibling, the 1990, has a finish that goes on for nearly a minute. It does not seem to be quite as evolved as the 1990, and my instincts suggest there is a bit more tannin, but both are as prodigious as Petrus can be.